Machine for forming and pressing hats



(No Model.) 2.SheetsSheet 1.

T. J-. PEARSON. MACHINE FOR FORMING AND PRESSING HATS.

I No. 427,186. Patented May 6 1890.-

v: NDRRXS F nns cc, PuoYo-uYna, WASHINGTON, n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. J. PEARSON. MACHINE EUR FORMING AND P RESSI NG HATS. No. 427,186. Patented May 6, 1890 WHQQSSGS W flair/as Ilka/602v I v [5 7w's @Afim I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS JACKSON PEARSON, OF NEWVARK, NEW JERSEY.

- MACHINE FOR FQRMING AND PRESSING HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,186, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed January 13, 1890. Serial No. 336,738. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS JACKSON PEAR- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Machine for Forming and Pressing Hats, of

such a nature as to adapt itself readily to the shape of the hat which is to be pressed, and at the same time retain the heat, so as to be very efficient in shaping and forming the hat which is being subjected to pressure.

With these general ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be'hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a machine embodying my invention, showing a hat in the same in position for being pressed. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the pressing-drum. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the bottom board of the press. Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing a hat-block adapted to be used in connection with my invention in an inverted position. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the heating-disk. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the shaping-dish. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view illustrating a modified construction of the shaping-dish.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The frame of my improved machine, which is designated by 1, may be of any suitable approved construction, and is provided with up rights 2, connected by a cross-piece 3, which has a bearing for a vertically-movable screw 4, the upper end of which has a handle 5, by means of which it may be conveniently manipulated.

6 designates the bottom board of the press, which is provided with a covering plate 7, of sheet met-a1, and with a centrally-located upwardly-extending Tshaped stud 8. p

9 designates a hat-block adapted to be used in connection with my invention. The under side of said hat-block has a recess 9, covered by a metallic plate 10, havinga slot 1.1, adapted to engage the T-shaped lug 8. It will be seen that by this'construction, by placing the hatblock sidewise on the table or bottom board of the press and giving it one quarter-turn, the lug 8 may be caused to engage the fast ening-plate 10, and thereby lock the hat-block in position for operation.

12 designates an annularmetallic disk, which I call the heating-disk, and which is adapted to fit over the hat-block after the felt or cloth which has been blocked into the shape of a hat has been fitted on the said block. The under side of the heating-disk has a covering 13, of asbestus cloth, for the purpose of preventing the brim of the hat from being glazed or otherwise injuriously affected by an excess of heat.

14 designates the shaping-dish, which consists of an annular plate of substantially the same size and shape as the disk 12, but having at its inner'edge an annular flange 15, which surrounds the crown of the hat-blank. By the use of this device the hat is kept in perfect shape, and a good and sharp band is formed at the intersection of the crown and the brim. This is considered of great importance, inasmuch as the placing in position of the leather sweat-band is thereby much facilitated.

16 designates the pressing-drum, which consists of a cylindrical drum, constructed, preferably, of sheet metal and covered at its heads or ends with flexible material, as cloth, which will readily yield to pressure and adapt itself to the shape of the hat-block. The body of the drum is to be filled with sand, as shown at 17, which will readily yield to pressure and adapt itself to varying hatshapes, and which at the same time will retain heat more efficiently and for a longer time than almost any other medium. This filling is retained within the drum by the upper and lower flexible heads, which are designated by 18 and 19.

Suitably secured to the outer side of the drum is a series of vertical bars or braces 20, the lower ends of which are turned outwardly, as shown at 21, and bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the shaping-dish 14, which is thus retained in position in the lower end of the drum. The dish maybe readily detached when necessary and another one of a different size or shape substituted.

22 designates a press-board, which may be swiveled or otherwise suitably connected to the lower end of the screw 4.

23 designates a follower, which is connected to the under side of the board 22 by means of a spring or springs 24, and which is adapted to bear against the upper flexible head 18 of the pressing-drum.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The hat which is to be blocked'or pressed is fitted upon the block 9, which latter is then attached to the bottom board of the press. The heating-disk may be heated separately from the drum, which latter is to be heated by steam or in any other suitable manner. The heating-disk 12 is now placed in position and the drum is next adjusted over the hatblock. The screw 4 is now manipulated, causing the follower 23 to be forced against the upper flexible head of the drum, the yielding contents of which will now cause the lower flexible head to bear with an equal degree of pressure against all parts of the exterior of the hat, the shaping-dish being at the same time forced downwardly upon the brim. After remaining in the press for a suitable time the hat may be removed by raising the screw 4, thus enabling the drum or cylinder to be lifted off, after which the block, with the hat,

may be readily detached from the bottom board.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified construction of the shaping-dish, which simply consists of constructing the same in two separate pieces 28 28,which are hinged together, as shown at 29. This form of a shaping-dish is to be' used for bell-crown hats. Blocks and shaping-dishes of other suitable constructions are to be used for turban crowns; but inasmuch as the proper shapes and details of construction of these parts are well known to the trade it is not deemed necessary to describe them herein in detail.

Hy improved hat pressing and forming machine is exceedingly simple in construction and may be manufactured at a small expense. It will be easily seen how the pressing-drum will adapt itself to hats of any size and shape, and it will also be easily understood that, owing to the filling of sand which it contains, it will retain the heat for a considerable length of time, thereby avoiding the necessity of very frequent reheating. When desired, the sand may be heated independently in a suitablyconstructed oven and the contents of the drum be changed whenever necessary.

While I have herein described the preferred form of my improved hat-pressing machine, I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to any changes and modifications in the construction thereof which may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a hat-pressing machine, the drum or cylinder having flexible heads and provided with a filling of sand, in combination with the shaping-dish and means for detachably connecting it to a bottom board below the lower end of said drum, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The drum or cylinder having flexible heads and provided with a filling of sand, in combination with the vertical braces secured to the outer side of said drum and having outturned lower ends and the shaping-dish secured detachably to the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination, with the bottom board having the sheetmetal covering and provided with an extending T-shaped lug, of the hat-block provided in its under side with a recess covered by a slotted locking-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination of the bottom board having the T-shaped lug, the hat-block adapted to be secured detachably to the said lug, and the heating-disk consisting of an annular plate provided on its under side with a covering of asbestus cloth, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination, with the drum having flexible heads and provided with a filling of sand, of a vertically-movable spring-pressed follower smaller than said upper head, upon which it rests, a press-board above the spring, and a screw for manipulating the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS JACKSON PEARSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES IVIOON, E. DE L. BRADIN. 

